Dispenser



E. J. ERNST May 29, 1956 DISPENSER Filed April 22, 1955 R m fig mrm n 2:M

United States Patent DISPENSER Edward Ernst, St. Johns, Mich.Application April 22, 1955, Serial No. 503,222

4 Claims. (Cl. 222-400) The present invention relates to pastedispensers and is more particularly directed to a new, novel andimproved dispenser for toothpaste and the like from collapsible tubessubstantially eliminating leakage from the tube when not in use.

Many of the prior art tube dispensers have retained the tube in aninverted position even when not in use. The tube, when in the invertedposition, is susceptible to leakage of the paste contents even whenpressure squeezing the tube is relieved. In a full tube the weight ofthe paste tends to cause some leakage from the tube. The normal methodfor preventing this leakage is by the addition of a spring loaded capbelow the mouth of the tube which cap is a part of the dispenser. Thismeans is not entirely satisfactory and always presents sanitationproblems since dry caked paste accumulates in the cap and can be abreeding place for bacteria. Another objectionable feature of theseprior art caps and dispensers is that the dry cake will build up to sucha height that the cap no longer closes the tube mouth and allows leakageand drying within the neck of the tube. Many elaborate mechanicallinkages have been devised to insure closure of the mouth of the tubewhen not in use, but none seem to have overcome the objectionabledrying, unhygenic conditions. Prior art dispensers have also lackedsimplicity and as a consequence the costs of such structures weregenerally prohibitive. Many of the prior art dispensers did not provideenclosures for the tube when the tube was not in use.

Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide apaste tube dispenser which will not leak or accidentally discharge thecontents of the tube when the tube is not in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paste tubedispenser which has few moving parts, which can be easily fabricated andwhich is economical to assemble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tube pastedispenser for collapsible tubes which is simple in its operationaldetails and hygenic in its structure. A further object of the presentinvention is to provide a dispenser which may be completely assembled bythe purchaser, at home for instance, without the use of elaborate tools.

Another object is to provide a dispenser which closes completely whennot in use and which coordinates the opening of the dispenser with theprogressive discharge means for the contents.

A still further object is to provide a dispenser which inverts the tubefor use, erects the tube when not in use, and the entire control of thestructure is accomplished by rotation of a single shaft. These and otherobjects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation view of a dispenser for collapsible tubesin accord with the present invention and shows (in phantom line) thepivotal character of the cover outwardly.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the dispenser shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser as shown in Figures 1and 2 and indicating the open character of the bottom permitting thepivoted cover to swing outwardly on the axis established through theknobs and receptacle and showing the step which limits the pivotaltravel of the cover.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a dispenser in accord with the presentinvention being fully opened to reveal the positioning of the guidewayin the cover closure and the cradle against which the tube (phantomline) reclines when the dispenser is in the closed position.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser in accord withthe present invention and shows the simple interrelationship of thevarious members and indicating the ease of assembly.

General description In general, the paste tube dispenser of the presentinvention comprises a wall receptacle having a hinged cover which, whenopen, depends from the lower edge of the receptacle. The pivotal axisfor the cover comprises the tube collapsing and winding means and isprovided with finger manipulating knobs outside of the receptacle. Thehinged cover is provided with rib-like rails on its inner surfaceforming a guideway to center a collapsible tube therebetween. Thereceptacle is provided with a cradle to rest the tube against when thecover effects closure of the receptacle and erection of the tube, thuspreventing the tube mouth from resting against any of the interior wallsurfaces of the receptacle. The receptacle has wall mounting meansintegral therewith for quick and easy wall mounting. Upon outwardrotation of the manip' ulating knobs the closed receptacle swings openurged by the resulting movement of the tube against the hinged,

closure and the tube is swung into an inverted exposed position for use.Further rotation of the knobs causes a corresponding downward deliveryof material from the mouth of the collapsible tube as the tube is woundon the winding bar. The method of assembly of the dispenser and itscomponent parts is easily accomplished by unskilled persons because allparts are merely slip-fitted to each other. Thus, the dispenser can beshipped and sold in a knockdown condition for assembly by the user.

Specific description Referring with more particularity to the drawings,a dispenser 11 is provided consisting of a wall receptacle 12 having oneside 13 and its bottom 14 open and provided with a pivotally mountedside and bottom cover member 15. The receptacle 12 has a cradle 16mounted transversely within the interior of the receptacle 12substantially midway of the length of receptacle 12. The cradle 16 is ina position to receive a collapsible tube 17 (phantom line in Figure 4)thereagainst when the collapsible tube 17 is in an upright position withthecover 15 closed. The receptacle 12 is substantially box-like and theopen bottom 14 is provided with a step 18. The step 18 is bestillustrated in Figure 3. The receptacle 12 is tapered in the directionof the .top 19. The sidewalls 20 converge to the top 19. The coverclosure member 15 is provided with guide rails 21 on its inner face 22running substantially the length of the cover 15 to center thecollapsible tube 17 when the cover 15 is in its open position dependingfrom the lower edge of the receptacle 12. The cover closure 15 ispivotally mounted near the lower edge of the receptacle 12, and has itspivotal. axis. offset outwardly from its tube loaded center of gravitywhen the tube 17 is in its closed position. This Patented May 29, 1956arrangement assures that the dispenser 11 will be gravity held againstopening. The cover 15, best illustrated in Figure 5, is generallyJ-shaped in side elevation. Barriers 23, molded or otherwise provided inthe receptacle 12, serve as stops preventing the cover from entering thereceptacle 12 and assure a flush closure. The pivotal axis upon whichthe cover 15 swings also comprises the axis for the winding and tubecollapsing mechanism 24. The winding and tube collapsing mechanism 24 isa bar 25 having an axial slot 26. A pair of finger grasping knobs 27 areprovided. The split bar 25 is press fitted at its ends into the knobs27. An opening 28 mating with the bar 25 is provided in each of theknobs 27. When the ends of the bar 25 are gress-fitted into the opening28 in each knob 27, simple assembly is accomplished, thus keying the bar25 to the knobs 27. The knobs 27 are each provided with a boss 29. Thecylindrical bosses 29 are coaxial with the axis of the knobs 27 and, aswill be seen, the knob axis upon assembly coincides with the axis of thebar 25 to form the winding mechanism 24. Each side wall of thereceptacle 12 and the cover closure 15 is provided with a clearance hole30 therethrough, serving as a bearing surface for the bosses 29 andknobs 27, respectively. The slot 26 through the bar is of a width andlength to engage the crimped end of the conventional collapsible tube17. By inserting the crimped end of the tube 17 in the slot 26, the tube17 may be wound thereover and collapsed thereon to force out thematerial within the tube 17. The collapsing of the tube 17 occurs whenthe cover 15 abuts the step 18 and the tube 17 is inverted and centeredbetween the guide rails 21 as shown in Figure 4. The fit of the bosses29 of the knobs 27 within the bearing surface provided in the closure 15is such that the cover closure 15 will rotate freely on the bosses 29when no tube 17 is engaged. When a tube 17 is positioned on the windingmechanism 24 the receptacle 12 may be closed with the tube mouth 31upward. Outward rotation of the knobs 27 overcomes the rest position ofthe tube 17 and the cover 15 rotates outwardly carrying the tube 17 asshown in Figure 4. This novel arrangement provides a means for openingand closing the receptacle 12 before and after use. The direction ofrotation of the winding means 24 insures the release of extrudingpressure on the collapsible tube 17 when the receptacle closure 15 ismoved to its closed position.

The rear wall 32 of the receptacle 12 is provided with openings 33through which screws (not shown) are inserted for providing simple wallmounting means.

It is apparent that modifications may be made in the various elements ofthe above described embodiment without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, for example, other wall mounting means wellknown in the art may be substituted for the specific means indicated.While the slotted bar 25 illustrated is of generally rectangularconfiguration, it will be appreciated that bars 25 having other forms,for example, bars having cylindrical ends (not illustrated) with flatsor keyways may be used as desired. When cylindrical ended bars are usedthe bar ends are journaled in the openings 28 through the receptacle 12to directly serve as the cover pivot. When such a modification isemployed, then the bosses 29 provided on the knobs 27 are unnecessary.

The dispenser 11 may be manufactured from many types of materials. Someof the more readily available materials are the plastics such as theepoxy resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins,styrenes, the vinyl and copolymers thereof. In particular the form ofthe structure adapts itself to injection molding with respect toreceptacle 12, cover 15, and knobs 27. Metals may be used but are morecostly to fabricate and finish and do not generally lend themselves tothe tolerances which are held throughout the manufacture of thedispenser 11. Since the dispenser 11 is subject only to a very smallamount of water spray the container may be made from pressed fibreboards coated with waterproof plastics, et cetera.

The operation of the dispenser of the present invention is substantiallyas follows:

The cover closure member 15 is opened by rotation of the knobs 27 andswings downwardly pivoting about the axis established by the knobs 27shouldering in the openings 28 through the side walls 20, the receptacle12 and axially coinciding with the slotted bar 25. The crimped end of acollapsible tube 17 is inserted in the slot 26 of bar 25. The knobs 27or either of them are rotated to start to wind the tube 17 around thebar 25. The cap of the tube is removed and the dispenser 11 is ready todischarge any desired amount of paste by further outward rotation of theknobs 27. When the desired amount of paste is dispensed the coverclosure 15 carrying the tube 17 is rotated into a closed position intoand against the receptacle 12. The barrier 23 prevent the cover closure15 from dropping into the receptacle 12 and the cradle 16 receives thetube 17 preventing the mouth 31 from touching the interior wallsthereof. The tube 17 is centered with respect to the cover 15 by theguideway 34 established by the guide rails 21. When it is desired to usethe paste again, the knobs 27 are rotated in an outward direction andthe cover closure 15 and tube 17 swing downwardly presenting the openend of the tube 17 in a downward position. In the open position thecover 15 rests against the step 18. When the paste has been dispensedthe cover 15 is swung closed. The tube 17 is in an upright position whenthe dispenser is closed thus preventing accidental droppage therefromand by reason of the location of the tube 17 and cover 15 will not openunless the knobs 27 are rotated overcoming the gravity rest closure.Further, the paste contents cannot be accidentally dispensed inside thereceptacle 12 because the direction of rotation of the knobs 27 to expelthe paste is outward and such motion will open the cover closure 15 andpresent the tube 17 in a downward position.

Thus a new and useful dispenser 11 has been provided which can be easilyassembled by unskilled persons and which mounts conveniently for walluse.

Other modifications within the skill of the art are intended to beincluded in the present invention unless such inclusion is negatived bythe scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes including: a wallreceptacle provided with a transverse cradle connecting the side walls;a cover pivotally attached to said receptable; winding means receivingthe crimped end of a collapsible tube and serving as the pivotal axisfor said cover; and knobs on the terminal ends of said windingmechanism.

2. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes including: a wallreceptacle provided with a transverse cradle connecting the side walls;a cover pivotally attached to said receptacle and having longitudinalguideway thereon for steadying and centering a collapsible tube; windingmeans slotted to receive the crimped end of a collapsible tube andserving as the pivotal axis for said cover; and knobs on the terminalends of said winding mechanism extending from said receptacle.

3. In a dispensing device substantially as set forth in claim 2, andincluding a pair of knobs having bosses thereon, said bosses riding inopenings in the said receptacle outward from the center of gravity ofsaid cover and pivotal in the said openings through the said receptacle.

4. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes including: a box-likereceptacle adapted to be attached to a vertical wall; a transversecradle for holding erect a collapsible tube and connecting the sidewalls of said receptacle; a cover provided with spaced apartlongitudinal guide rails on the inner face thereof pivotally attached tosaid receptacle and opening outwardly from the face of said receptacle;slotted tube winding means on the pivotal axis of said cover andextending through said cover and said receptacle for receiving thecrimped end of a collapsible tube; knobs keyed to each end of saidwinding means 6 and having bosses journaled by the'side walls of saidreceptacles which knobs, upon rotation, open said cover outwardly andurge the contents from a collapsible tube attached to said windingmeans.

No references cited.

